Stuffed toy apparatus with attached book

Abstract

The present invention provides a stuffed toy with an integral book. Generally, the stuffed toy includes a body portion with a pack portion for fixedly securing the book to the body portion and a means for keeping the pack portion closed, when desired. The stuffed toy and the integral book is preferably adapted for use by young children. However, both the stuffed toy and the book may be tailored so that the invention may be used by adults as a note pad, a photo album, or a small dryers type pad. In a further embodiment, the pack portion may be adapted as an enclosure portion for securing a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone or a personal digital assistant. Pockets or other securing means may also be provided to allow for the storage of pens, or other objects in the stuffed toy.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to toys, and more particularly to the combination of stuffed toys with reading materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Stuffed toys have existed throughout history. Their use is largely decorative, and they are primarily utilized for the amusement and entertainment for small children, with an educational value generally limited to possible physical representations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,358 discloses a stuffed animal with an attached book apparatus that has a compartment in the chest area, as well as a storage compartment in the back portion for additional reading material. Although the stuffed animal described includes provision for storing substantial amounts of reading material, the material is enclosed within the body of the stuffed toy and cannot be used while so contained, thus requiring removal prior to its use. The removed reading material is unattached to the stuffed animal, and thus may be easily lost or misplaced during use. This is a particular problem with toys designed for use by children who, due to a low attention span, are likely to misplace items such as the reading material.

[0003] In light of these shortcomings in the art, a need exists in the to provide a stuffed toy with an integral book. By fixedly securing the book to the stuffed toy, the chance of loss of the reading material may be minimized, since a child is more likely to know the particular whereabouts of the stuffed toy than reading materials. It is further desirable to retain the entertainment value as well as educational value of both the stuffed toy and the reading material respectively.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book, with the apparatus generally comprising a stuffed toy portion and a book portion securely attached to the stuffed toy portion, with the book portion including a cover portion hinged attached to the stuffed toy portion, the book portion and the stuffed toy portion further including a securing means, whereby the book portion may be swinger opened and closed, and whereby the closure means provides a mechanism for optionally securing the book portion closed.

[0005] The stuffed toy portion is preferably formed as a stuffed animal and the cover of the book portion is preferably formed so that the book portion appears as a backpack, including decorative straps for further securing the book portion to the toy portion. Further, and still preferably, the pages of the book portion are formed of a substantially rigid, board-style material. Additionally, both or either of the cover of the book portion and the stuffed toy portion may include at least one pocket in order to allow items to be stored therein.

[0006] The closure means of the book portion may be any of a number of mechanisms for securing the pages of the book to maintain closure. Examples of mechanisms for securing the pages of the book include buttons, zippers, Velcro, snaps, and tie-strings.

[0007] The book portion of the present invention may also be adapted to include a variety of page types, including photo-holding pages, whereby the stuffed toy apparatus may act as a photo album; sticky notes; memo forms; note paper; and dryers pages. Further, the stuffed toy apparatus may include a writing instrument holder for securing a writing instrument to the stuffed toy.

[0008] In alternative embodiment, the stuffed toy apparatus includes an enclosure portion adapted to hold and protect an electronic device securely attached to the stuffed toy portion, with the enclosure portion including a cover portion hinged attached to the stuffed toy portion, and the enclosure portion and the stuffed toy portion further including a securing means, whereby the enclosure portion may be swinger opened and closed, and whereby the closure means provides a mechanism for optionally securing the enclosure portion closed. Examples of electronic devices that may be used in conjunction with the stuffed toy apparatus of the present invention include cellular phones, personal digital assistants, handheld computers, and handheld radios.

[0009] The features and advantages outlined in this summary will be made more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to the included drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a toy with an integral book in accordance with the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy with an integral book in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the toy with an integral book in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the book portion opened; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the toy with an integral book in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present invention provides a stuffed toy having an integral book or device attached and may be tailored to a variety of applications. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein

[0015] The present invention provides a novel and useful toy and more particularly, a stuffed toy integrally incorporating a book or other object. A front view of an embodiment of the stuffed toy of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. For illustrative clarity, the stuffed toy shown in FIG. 1 is in the shape of an animal. It is important to note that, although shown in the shape of an animal, the stuffed toy can be any desired object and may vary widely while remaining within the scope of the present invention. The stuffed toy shown to FIG. 1, includes a body portion 100 having paw portions 102, foot portions 104, and a head portion 106 attached thereto. In the a first embodiment, a book portion in the form of a pack portion 108 is secured both directly to the body portion 100 and by a pack strap portion 110. Note that, although shown in the form of a backpack-like structure, the book may take many possible forms. The book is preferably comprised of at least one board-type page. Board-type pages are preferred to thin, flimsy pages because they are more durable and more apt to stand up to abuse from children. However, in other embodiments, it is contemplated that other page types may be incorporated with the stuffed toy, thereby protecting flimsy or board type pages. For example, the present invention need not be limited specifically to children's toys. It may be tailored for the provision other items, non-limiting examples of which may include thinner paper pages, sticky notes, memo forms, note paper, and dryers pages, and pictures.

[0016] A side view of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the pack portion 108 is attached laterally to the body portion 100. Additionally it can be seen that a book portion 112 is shown enclosed by the pack portion 108. The pack portion is composed of a base portion 114, a strap flap portion 116, and a pocket portion 118.

[0017] A side view of the present invention with the pack portion 108 open is shown in FIG. 3. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the pack portion 108 opens hinged from the body portion 100. The book portion 112 is comprised of individual page portions 120 attached at a spine portion 122. Additionally, the cover portion 124 of the book portion 112 attaches to the pack portion 108 via the pocket portion 118. The pack portion 108 is secured in the closed position via the base portion 114, which attaches to the strap portion 116. This strap portion 116 may be secured to the pocket portion 118 through a strapping means 126, non-limiting examples of which include snaps, buttons or Velcro. Although the book portion 112 is shown attached to the pack portion 108 via the pocket portion 118, other securing mechanisms are contemplated such as by gluing, sewing, or otherwise fixedly attaching the book portion 112 to the pack portion 108. Use of a pocket portion 118 as a securing means is preferred, however, because different book portions 112 may be interchanged.

[0018] A rear view of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the pack portion 108 obscures the body portion 100. The strap portion 116 is shown attached affixed to the lower part of the pack portion 108. When the strap portion 116 is attached to the pack portion, the book portion 112 is secured within the pack portion 108.

[0019] In addition to the above-described embodiments, pockets for storing items may also be introduced into the body portion 100 or the pack portion 108 to allow items to be stored in the stuffed toy. The pockets may include closure means, non-limiting examples of which typically include buttons, zippers, Velcro, and snaps. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the book portion of the stuffed toy may be adapted for use as a photo album by the inclusion of at least one photo-holding page. Additionally, the stuffed toy apparatus may include a writing instrument holder for securing a writing instrument to the stuffed toy. Incorporation of a writing instrument holder with the stuffed toy is particularly desirable in cases where the pages of the book portion are items such as sticky notes, memo forms, note paper, dryers pages, or photo-holding pages.

[0020] As a further optional embodiment, the pack portion 108 of the stuffed toy may be adapted as an enclosure portion for securely holding and protecting an electronic device, non-limiting examples of which include a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a bandheld computer, or a handheld radio. The electronic device may be secured within the enclosure portion by means such as straps or pockets which enable the user of the electronic device to access all necessary functions thereof.

Claims

1. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book, the apparatus comprising;

a. a stuffed toy portion; and

b. a book portion securely attached to the stuffed toy portion, with the book portion including a cover portion hinged attached to the stuffed toy portion, the book portion and the stuffed toy portion further including a securing means, whereby the book portion may be swinger opened and closed, and whereby the closure means provides a mechanism for optionally securing the book portion closed.

2. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stuffed toy portion is in the form of a stuffed animal, and wherein the cover of the book portion is formed such that the book portion appears as a backpack optionally including straps.

3. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as set forth in claim 2, wherein the book portion includes at least one board-style page or cover.

4. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as set forth in claim 1, wherein the closure means is selected from the group consisting of buttons, zippers, Velcro, snaps, and tie-strings.

5. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as set forth in claim 1, wherein the book portion includes at least one board-style page or cover.

6. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stuffed toy portion further includes at least one pocket, whereby items may be stored in the stuffed toy.

7. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as set forth in claim 1, wherein the book portion includes at least one photo-holding page whereby the stuffed toy apparatus may act as a photo album.

8. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached book as set forth in claim 1, wherein the book portion includes a plurality of pages selected from the group consisting of sticky notes, memo forms, note paper, and dryers pages, and wherein the stuffed toy apparatus includes a writing instrument holder for securing a writing instrument to the stuffed toy.

9. A stuffed toy apparatus with an enclosure portion, the apparatus comprising;

a. a stuffed toy portion; and

b. an enclosure portion adapted to hold and protect an electronic device securely or detachably attached to the stuffed toy portion, with the enclosure portion including a cover portion hinged attached to the stuffed toy portion, the enclosure portion and the stuffed toy portion further including a securing means, whereby the enclosure portion may be swinger opened and closed, and whereby the closure means provides a mechanism for optionally securing the enclosure portion closed.

10. A stuffed toy apparatus with an attached enclosure portion as set forth in claim 9,

wherein the enclosure portion is adapted to hold and protect an electronic device selected from the group consisting of cellular phones, personal digital assistants, handheld computers, and handheld radios.